THE IMPACT OF ADVANCED SAFETY FEATURES ON MOTORCYCLING

Road accidents are a major cause of death in India.

- RAJAT BHANDARI

Official records from 2024 show that over 180,000 people died in road accidents. Nearly 30,000 of them were riding two-wheelers. India also reports the highest number of road accident deaths globally, accounting for 11% of the total worldwide, as per World Bank Report.

The data shows that most of the lives lost were young. People between 18 and 34 years old accounted for 66% of the fatalities. This includes students, working professionals, and others at the start of their adult lives. What is even harder to accept is that nearly 10,000 school children died, many of them near schools where basic traffic safety measures are often missing.

These numbers bring rider safety into focus. Two-wheelers remain a popular and practical mode of transport in India. At the same time, they expose riders to direct risks, especially in traffic conditions that are often unpredictable.

PROTECTIVE GEAR IS EVOLVING WITH PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS

Helmets and basic protective clothing are common among riders. But newer forms of protection have been developed that work differently. Wearable airbag vests, for example, deploy in the event of a fall, protecting vital areas like the chest, neck, and spinal cord. The design of such gear reduces injury before the rider hits the ground.